every wheel would draw nearer. We waited long, and were
more than once disappointed by carriages passing us and disappearing at
the end of the street. Edward and his friend walked up and down, east
and west, north and south, in hopes of descrying the travellers in the
remotest distance. But after each unavailing walk, they took up their
post again on the steps.

At last a travelling carriage laden with luggage turned the nearest
corner, rolled towards us, and stopped at the house. The two gentlemen
rushed down the steps, flung open the carriage-door, and for some
moments all was hurry and agitation, and I could distinguish nothing.

I much feared that I should now be obliged to go home without actually
seeing my friends, for they had passed so quickly from the carriage to
the house, and there had been so much confusion and excitement during
those few seconds, that my transient glance scarcely allowed me to know
one from another; but in course of time Sarah came out again, and asked
Susan's father to help in unloading the carriage, desiring us to sit
meanwhile in the housekeeper's room. So we waited till the business was
finished, when, to my great joy, we were summoned to the sitting-room,
and I had the happiness of seeing all the family once more assembled.

I was delighted to find how much less they were altered than I. I had
been half afraid that I might see one without a leg, another without an
arm, according to the dilapidations which had taken place in my own
frame; but strange to say, their sensitive bodies, which felt every
change of weather, shrunk from a rough touch, and bled at the scratch
of a pin, had outlasted mine, though insensible to pain or sickness.
There stood the father, scarcely altered; his hair perhaps a little more
gray, but his eyes as quick and bright as ever. And there was the
mother, still grave and gentle, but looking less sad and careworn than
in the days of Willy's constant illness. And there was, first in
interest to me, my dear mistress, Rose, as tall as Margaret, and as
handsome as Edward. I could not imagine her condescending to play with
me now. Margaret looked just as in former times, good and graceful; but
she stood a little apart with the traveller friend by her side, and I
heard Rose whisper to Susan that the wedding was to take place in a
fortnight. They were only waiting for Geoffrey to arrive. His ship was
daily expected, and they all wished him to be present.

And Willy, f